I have a bachelor’s degree. Can I apply for a Ph.D. admission or must I apply for a master’s degree first?
Applicants who want to earn a PhD, whether or not they have a master’s degree, are encouraged to apply directly to the PhD program. Our PhD students who don’t have a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering can earn the master’s degree on the way to their PhD.
Does an applicant have to choose an advisor before the application is reviewed?
No, but applicants are welcome to state with which faculty members they would like to work.
Will the department waive the US $25 application fee?
No.
Will the department ACCEPT APPLICATIONS AFTER THE APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE?
No.
Can I apply for more than one degree program in multiple departments?
Yes. You can submit separate applications for different departments at the same time. You will have to pay each department’s application fee.
For Mechanical Engineering, you can apply for only one degree, either master’s or PhD. Applicants who want to earn a PhD, whether or not they have a master’s degree, are encouraged to apply directly to the PhD program.
If I apply for the Ph.D. program but am not admitted, will my application be considered for admission to the master’s program?
Yes. All Ph.D. applicants who are not admitted to the Ph.D. program will be automatically considered for admission to the master’s program. No separate application is necessary. Those who are eligible for master’s admission will be notified of this and be offered admission if they are interested in the master’s program.
I applied for admission in a past semester, but was not admitted. I would like to apply again. May I use my previous application materials in my new application?
If we have the documents from past semesters, we can upload the documents to your new application. However, a new statement of purpose is required, and it is strongly recommended to have new letters of recommendation submitted. Please contact the department to confirm if past documents are available.
The University strongly recommends a “professional credential evaluation” for international applicants. Does the department require it? How will it influence my application whether or not I get one?
The Mechanical Engineering department follows the University’s strong recommendation that international applicants obtain a “professional credential evaluation.” Though not required, it is strongly recommended that international applicants obtain one.
The department cannot predict the chances of an applicant’s admission based solely on his or her choice to submit a professional credential evaluation.
Are both a “Statement of Purpose” and a “Personal Statement” required?
No. The department requires only a “Statement of Purpose.” There is no set requirement for the length of the statement, though many applicants will create a statement about one to 1 1/2 pages in length.
For information on “personal statements,” please contact the Graduate Admissions office.
Do I have to upload an official transcript with my application?
No. You may upload an unofficial transcript or copy of your current transcript with your application. If you are admitted and you accept admission, you must arrange to submit an official transcript to the University at that time.
My current transcript will not have grades for my current semester in school. Should I wait to upload the transcript until the grades are assigned?
No. Please upload your current transcript with your application, even if some grades are missing. We assume that many applicants are currently in school elsewhere and are taking classes that have not yet been graded.
What are the minimum score requirements for grade point averages (GPA)?
There are no minimum GPA requirements for an application to be considered.
What are the average grade point averages?
We do not calculate average scores of applicants, nor do we release information about applicants’ GPAs. An average score would have no bearing on an individual applicant’s qualifications or chances of admission.
I submitted my transcript but it has not been acknowledged in the application as received. what do I do?
First, check your application in the system, as the receipt of items are updated frequently. If you submitted a transcript long ago but don’t see it, please contact the Graduate Admissions office directly. They can help determine if it was received and connect it to your application.
when are applicants exonerated from having to submit a toefl/IELTS score?
if I am eligible for an exoneration from submitting a toefl/IELTs score, how will the exoneration be noted on my application?
The Graduate Admissions office will note the exoneration. If you do not see the exoneration within 14 days of submitting your application, please contact the Graduate Admissions office. Please do not contact the Mechanical Engineering department, as we can only refer you to Graduate Admissions.
who must submit gre scoreS?
All applicants who are not Johns Hopkins alumni or current students are required to submit GRE scores.
Johns Hopkins alumni and current students are exempt from submitting GRE scores, though they are welcome to do so.
Note that for applications for admission to the semesters Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Fall 2021, the GRE is optional. It is welcome, but not required. While there are no admissions advantages for submitting GREs, there will be no disadvantage if the GRE is not submitted.
ARE gre subject test scoreS required?
No. Only the regular GRE is required.
What are the minimum score requirements for the GRE, and TOEFL/IELTS?
There are no minimum GRE score requirements for an application to be considered.
The University prefers a minimum TOEFL score of 100 or IELTS score of 7.0, which our department follows.
What are the average GRE, TOEFl, and IELTS scores for applicants?
We do not calculate average scores of applicants, nor do we release information about applicants’ scores. An average score would have no bearing on an individual applicant’s qualifications or chances of admission.
I was unhappy with my GRE, TOEFL, or IELTS score. May I retake the test and have the new score submitted?
Yes. The Graduate Admissions office will automatically connect the new score to your application once the ETS submits it. While it is recommended that the new score arrive before the application submission deadline, we will accept it after the deadline, as well.
May I submit the GRE, TOEFL, or IELTS score after the application submission deadline?
Yes, though it is preferred, when possible to receive the score before the application submission deadline. For those who cannot submit it before then, because of taking the exam around the deadline date, simply have the scores sent as soon as possible using the standard process from the ETS. Please do not send a separate copy to the Mechanical Engineering department.
I arranged to have my GRE and/or TOEFL scores submitted but my application states that they have not been received. What do I do?
Upon submission of an application, the Graduate Admissions office will match GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS scores to the application and acknowledge receipt. This is not an automated process but requires a staff member to manually connect scores to applications. It will take time and patience is appreciated. An application will not be negatively affected if the scores are not immediately connected to it. The scores will eventually be acknowledged.
If you do not see the scores within 10 days of submitting your application, please contact the Graduate Admissions office directly. Please do not contact the Mechanical Engineering department, as we can only refer you to Graduate Admissions.
may i contact faculty to see if they are accepting students?
Yes, but before so doing, please visit our faculty members’ homepages, and identify those faculty members whose research best aligns with your interests. Some faculty pages may answer your questions. Also, please avoid requests for pre-application screening, as we can only evaluate complete applications. Note that our Graduate Recruiting and Admissions committee takes a dim view of applicants who spam our faculty with form-letter emails.
i e-mailed a faculty member but received no reply. why didn’t they reply?
We cannot guarantee that you will receive a reply from a specific faculty member. Our faculty members receive many inquiries and may not have the time to answer each one. Your application will receive our full attention – especially if you list faculty members in your application with whom you would like to work. If a faculty member sees a potential match she or he will reach out to you. Sending multiple follow-up e-mails to faculty after not receiving a reply can be intrusive.
How many applicants do you plan to admit?
There is no pre-determined number, as it will vary from year-to-year. About 95-100% of our admissions occur for the Fall semester. Spring semester admissions, while rare, occasionally occur.
What is the acceptance rate for applications?
The number of applications accepted varies from year to year and from program to program. The rate of application acceptance in previous years has no influence on the number of application acceptances in the current year as each application is considered on its own merits.
What are the chances that I will be admitted based on my GPA or GRE, TOEFL, or IELTS scores?
We cannot predict the chances of admission for an applicant based solely on one’s GPA or GRE, TOEFL, or IELTS score. To determine an applicant’s chances for admission, a complete application is necessary, which includes not only the transcripts and exam scores but also a statement of purpose and three recommendation letters.
Are conditional admissions available?
No, conditional admissions are not offered. Admission is determined using an applicant’s complete application and the compatibility of research and academic interests.
Are TRANSFERs available?
No. Students who wish to move from another institution to Johns Hopkins University must apply for admission. Eligibility for admission is determined using an applicant’s complete application and the compatibility of research and academic interests.
Can applicants visit the department before admission?
We host an annual Graduate Visit Day by invitation only to certain applicants. Unsolicited requests to visit during Graduate Visit Day will not be considered.
Applicants and potential students are welcome to visit the department on their own and at their own cost.
Pre-arranging the visits are strongly recommended. Walk-in visitors will be accommodated when possible, but only at certain times of the year. Again, pre-arranging visits are the best option.
To arrange a visit, please contact the department and provide the following information:
- Your resume or CV
- Your Statement of Purpose
- Which degree(s) you would like to earn – masters, Ph.D., or both
- Which Mechanical Engineering professors and labs you would like to visit
- When you would like to visit
- Any other information that you would like our professors to know before your visit
- Any questions that you have of us.
Is there funding available for the semester to which I will apply?
Ph.D. Students
Ph.D. students are fully funded – tuition, health insurance, salary, and a one-time matriculation fee – for the duration of their Ph.D. program while they are in a full-time, resident status.
- In the 2020-21 academic year, the annual salary for the typical mechanical engineering student is US $33,112.
- In the 2021-22 academic year, the annual salary for the typical mechanical engineering student will be US $34,104.
- The salary has yet to be determined for the 2022-23 academic year, but we expect the rate will remain at or slightly rise above 2021-22 levels.
Master’s Students
For master’s students, most will be expected to cover their own tuition and expenses. There are a few Distinguished Master’s Fellowships offered each year.
Visit the Student Tuition and Fees page for an idea of anticipated costs for tuition, matriculation fee, and living expenses.
Master’s Students who are Johns Hopkins Alumni
Johns Hopkins alumni returning for their master’s degree have partial financial aid with a Whiting School of Engineering Dean’s Tuition Fellowship, which waives 50% of tuition for each full-time semester. This include alumni returning after earning a BS degree or combined BS/MSE students continuing to their master’s degree.
Hopkins alumni who were undergraduate transfer students still would receive the Dean’s Tuition Fellowship, as the eight semesters from both the previous institution and Hopkins are counted to determine eligibility.
Graduate Financial Aid
Visit the Graduate Financial Aid page for information on available options to pay for education.
What is the difference between the master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics? If I want to learn about robotics, to which degree should I apply?
The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a Master of Science in Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering. This degree offers advanced knowledge in mechanical engineering in several research areas: fluid mechanics, robotics, mechanics of materials, and biomechanics. Students can concentrate their course work and research in one of those areas or can broaden their learning experience across two or more research areas.
The Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics offers a Master of Science in Engineering degree in Robotics. This degree offers advanced knowledge in robotics with several specializations – some related but others unrelated to mechanical engineering.
The degree requirements differ between the two programs. Visit these sites for information, as they will help you decide to which degree to apply.
If I am a Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. student, may I earn a MSE Robotics degree?
Yes. Most Mechanical Engineering PhD students earn an MSE in Mechanical Engineering, but some will earn a master’s degree in another field, including robotics.
